Art in Raw Form

The movie industry is for entertainment purposes. For many people, going to the movies is an escape; time to sit back and become someone else. However, once in a rare moment then a movie comes out that is not just foe entertainment and dares to address a controversial issue. “The Blind Side” and “Precious” are two movies that I was very surprised at my reaction to them. My reasons for wanting to see both movies were as different as night and day. I went to see the “Blind Side” because it is based on a true story and Sandra Bullock is the leading lady. Yet, “Precious” doesn’t have a famous leading lady, but the previews were so intense and so realistic that it pulled me in. “The Blind Side” and “Precious” are movies about over-weight, illiterate, poverty stricken African-American teenagers and their struggles to overcome adversity. Have we seen movies like these before? What makes either one of these movies so alike yet so different? Both movies were accused of stereotyping and racism. One movie can be compared to a rag to riches (The Blind Side”) story as the other a phoenix rising (‘Precious”). Unlike “The Blind Side”, “Precious” isn’t afraid of presenting a valuable message to society. Director Lee Daniels has been heavily criticized for his style and script to the extent of being called an “Uncle Tom”. This film was classified by many as a stereotype of all African-Americans. There are those who argued that this movie will only bring the African-American culture two steps backwards in their efforts to overcome cultural barriers. I totally disagree. “Precious” is bold look at reality. This movie forces you to take a good hard look at what was, what is and what could be around you. After seeing each movie more than once I can sincerely say that “Precious” is a better movie. The acting, all the visual elements and the message were over powering.

First, the combination of acting style was superb. How often do we come as cross an actress with no acting experience that can deliver pain, desperation, helplessness in such a profound way as has Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious”? This young lady had to transform herself into an empty and hollow person in order to bring to life the atrocious and horrific world Precious was living in. Mo’nique, who is known as by her incredible comedic style showed what she is truly made of. Professor Jonathan Howle, who holds a Master’s in Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing and teaches film study and drama at Plaza College stated “For me it comes down to one scene. In the first one, Precious reads her journal for the first time. Her teacher asks her how it makes her feel, and she simply says, "Here." The brilliance of that moment slays me every time. It was a pitch-perfect blend of understatement and tenderness in writing, acting, and directing. I never felt there was a moment in The Blind Side that reached such an artistic high. He also goes on to say, “Mo'Nique seemed to make movie history before our very eyes, revealing a dramatic dynamo inside a comedian we all thought we knew. This is exactly what Mary Tyler Moore did in the film Ordinary People and what Robin Williams did in Good Will Hunting” ( Howle). Mon’nique’s incredible performance along with the rest of the cast is the true strength of the movie (“Film analysis: Oscar movies take on racial issue”). I felt as if I was watching things actually happening. This movie seemed so real because of how easily all the actors seem to fit together. The composition of actors is one of the elements that made this film so intense and dramatic. It left me with more than just a “wow” impact, but an overwhelming and deep look at society.

Furthermore, it takes enormous visual creativity to bring to life the intensity of Precious’ pain and struggle. Dark, depressing and hopelessness are words that describe the mise-en-scenes in the movie “Precious”. So why would this movie be a better movie than the “Blind Side”? Color and lighting were crucial elements. Each scene, with its desaturated colors and low-key lighting reflected Precious most inner feelings. The coloring was bleak, with Precious’ dream sequences being done in bright flashy colors and high resolution” (Review). For instance, the scene where Precious is at the Each One, Teach One School. Here the colors are red, yellow, blue, and green, and as she walks down the hallway into the classroom she dissolves, she is double-exposed and the lighting turns bright, coppery and almost cloudlike. It’s as if it were saying that Precious is walking into an unknown world. There is also the scene where Precious is standing at the top of the stairs looking down at her mother. The overhead shot, the lighting and color were used to perfection to reflect a sense of power for Precious. Here, Precious was finally “on top”. Even the scenes where she is being raped by her father and then we are looking at pieces of meat sizzling in hot grease are representative of how Precious felt; she was just a piece of meat. The cinematography resembles that of a documentary where the use of the camera has a different style to give you that almost realistic feel. Its grainy look, hard zooms, and shaky angles add an element that dramatic angles might not in order fully bring out the Precious’ pain and desperation (Review). All the elements of this movie from the editing to the cinematography were superb together. “The acting, editing, music, cinematography worked beautifully together to tell one powerful story of redemption and hope in the face of impossible obstacles” (Howle). The perfect tone, the ideal look, and a unity of acting styles were gorgeously brought together (Howle). Every camera angle, every color was intensified to bring us into Precious’s world.

Finally, I can see where “Precious” may be considered racist to many; however, I am looking at this from an artistic and realistic view. “Precious” had a message for all society. It did not state “this only happens to African-Americans”. According to Armond White, the great contrarian of American film criticism (and the chairman of the New York Film Critics Circle) “Precious” is trafficking in “racist hysteria disguised as social sensitivity,” and compared what he saw as its misrepresentations of African-American life to those in D. W. Griffith’s “Birth of a Nation.” (Scott). Unfortunately, a movie such as “Precious” was going to stir controversy regardless of the race of the leading lady. A movie such as “Precious” brings out the many ugly truths that for many regardless of their race may be too difficult to see. This movie created a powerful social message with its bold and shocking storyline (Sharkey). As hard as it is to admit these are issues that are there and have been there for years. It is much easier and more profitable to make movies about fiction and happy endings. However stereotypical the characters may seem to many it is a grave injustice to not see past that and see the bigger picture. “Precious” In many ways, gave voices to characters and experiences we don't often hear in movies” (Howle).

Films are an art form, such as documentaries, books, and music, and way of expression that bring forth to the world good, bad, ugly and controversial issues regardless of race, gender or religion. There is always an underlying message. A.O.Scott wrote in his article “Two Films: Two Routes From Poverty”, “Left or right, black or white, Americans love happy endings. Overcoming adversity is our national pastime, especially when it can also be a spectator sport. And we love stories of heroic educators, coaches and moms- Michelle Pfeiffer in “Dangerous Minds,” -Edward James Olmos in “Stand and Deliver” who change the lives of poor, marginalized children by teaching them hard work and self esteem” (Scott). “The Blind Side” fits into this category; hence, a movie with a happy ending. We finally have a movie that is not just to entertain, but to send a true message. “Precious” was by far an astounding and heroic movie. It dared to throw in our faces the cold, hard truth of incest, rape, obesity, homelessness, and poverty. This movie had substance, artistic vision and context. “In the end, I think “Precious” is a film of greater depth and artistic ambition” (Howle). Movies like these are necessary. We need, as a society to face what is going on around us. We need to take control of our destiny.